Yes. As I believe have allready been pointed out earlier in this forum, there is proof of a sure win for the starting party of the game. This without any restrictions; sad but true. Therefor if equal conditions are valued one should preferably play a game like pro gomoku or, if one gets the chance to, renju.
this was a problem in checkers, i recall, and in high level games, the first move or something is chosen by lot.
someone mentioned white having to play his second move three rows from the first. does this resolve the difficulty?